Tag: katogo

Ah Katogo! I cannot believe it took me this long to talk about it! Actually I have talked about katogo before here and here. It’s just that I have never talked about matooke (green banana) katogo and I know you are wondering why. Well, as much as it is a popular breakfast dish, it is always a treat in our household because a) I am yet to perfect that soft tooke wrapped in banana leaves and b) peeling these green bananas is an art in and of itself. So often times I find myself steering clear of matooke altogether. But once in a while the craving hits and point b) is ignored. Now this is the simplest way Katogo can be made. Peeling matooke and throwing them in a pan, adding diced tomatoes and onions and anything else that you think will help enhance the meal and letting it boil till the bananas are soft and tender. Easy! Once you learn how to make this classic katogo, you can then customize it to your liking.

What you will need:

15-20 Green bananas

10 Medium sized tomatoes

1 Large onion

2 Scallion stalks

1 Tsp. Oil + Additional 1/2 Tsp. Oil

Salt and pepper

Observations:

Applying oil to your hands before peeling the bananas prevents the sap from staining and sticking to your hands.

The amount of water you add to the katogo will determine the consistency of your katogo. More water will make it soupy and vice versa.

Sometimes a lot of tomatoes can make the food a little bit tart. If so, add a little bit of sugar to cut through the tartness.

Method:

Apply the 1/2 teaspoon of oil on your hands and the knife you will be using. Peel the green bananas. Place the peeled bananas in water to avoid excessive oxidation.

Dice the tomatoes and onions and set a side. Place a clean pan on fire and add the 1 teaspoon of oil. Add the onions and let them cook till translucent. Next add the tomatoes. Let the tomatoes cook till tender and paste-like.

Add the bananas and enough water to almost submerge the bananas. Let the katogo boil till the bananas are almost tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Once they start becoming tender, reduce the fire and let the katogo simmer. Remove from fire and let cool. Serve with ghee, a side of greens and tea.

Last week I took a quick trip to the west and was amazed by the endless banana farms we passed. Rolling fields of matooke in Bushenyi!! On the way back we brought with us a full bunch because they are cheaper in price and not to mention you can get the best matooke there. This recipe idea was conceived while I was knee-deep (not literally) in peeling matooke to prepare katogo. I did make the katogo but these chips went faster than the katogo.

Trust me this is restaurant level amazing! I cannot believe I never tried this before. I am going to attempt describing the flavours that are at play here. A base of crispy fried savory green banana chips topped with sweet mushy avocado, drizzled with slightly tangy ketchup, sprinkled with crunchy fresh purple onions and finally sprinkled with a generous amount of nutty roasted simsim seeds. There you have an epic meal/ snack easily.

What you will need:

Chips

4 Large green bananas, peeled and washed

1 C. Breadcrumbs

2 Tbsp. Salt

1 Tsp black pepper, ground

1 Tsp. Water

Oil for frying

Garnish

1 Small avocado

Ketchup

2 Small purple onions

Roasted simsim

Observations:

Use firm green bananas that are not on the verge of ripening

The bananas release a sticky fluid when rested at room temperature.

Fry the chips on medium heat to avoid burning before they are fully cooked

Fry the chips in small batches to keep them from getting soggy.

Use a very ripe avocado

Method

Chips

Drain the peeled washed bananas. Using a sharp knife, thinly slice the bananas into chips. Set aside for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, add the banana chips and the one teaspoon of water. Mix the chips till the water coats them all.

In a small bowl, add the bread crumbs, salt and pepper and mix well. Using a fork, coat each banana chip with bread crumbs and set aside.

Happy New Year friends! How has the year been treating you so far? I would like to hear all about it in the comments below. I have a lot to be grateful for. The year started off low key for me and it has mostly been that way ever since. Also unplugging has never felt so good. In fact it was so great it was extended for another week! But now I am back with fresh ideas (stay tuned for some awesome news!) and cannot wait to see what 2017 has in store for us all. If you have been following me on Instagram, you know that I took a trip back home and I still cannot get over the beauty that was my morning view for about a week! It is so splendid to see the details of the natural beauty that God has created. It truly is amazing!

Despite the fact that this is a refreshing avocado dish (because who does not want to start the year on a good note?!), we have been hit by a heat wave. OK. Maybe not a heat wave but the sun is scorching every corner of the country! It is so terrible. So while we are tirelessly waiting for it to finally rain, I figured cool but hearty meals will have to do. First off is this avocado salsa. I named it avocado salsa well because it is a combo of avocadoes, some tomatoes and onions. As easy as it is to make, it adds a lot of flavour to food. We have been eating it with katogo. ALOT!

What you will need:

5 Small ripe avocadoes

2 large tomatoes

2 Large onions

Lemon juice of one lemon

Parsley, finely chopped

Black pepper

Salt

Simsim (roast sesame) for garnishing

Observations:

The avocadoes have to be very ripe

You can substitute lemon juice for vinegar.

Lemon juice prevents the avocado from changing color

Add salt according to your preference

Method:

Cut, core and peel the avocadoes.

Finely chop the tomatoes and onions.

In a large bowl, mash the avocadoes with a fork.

Once fully mashed, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Garnish with simsim and serve with your favourite meal.

How are you conquering the dry hot weather? Also let me know when you do try this simple recipe.